Kremlin leaves door open to renewed Russia-Ukraine-US peace talks

The Kremlin said on Monday that it does not rule out resuming peace negotiations with Ukraine and the United States, but added that it is still too early to set a date or venue. The comments came after a new round of shuttle diplomacy involving US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who have held talks in Moscow and Kiev. The remarks underline that contacts remain active even as the war continues and no formal breakthrough has been announced.

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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said a phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump was also not excluded. He said such a call could be used to discuss the outcome of the envoys' mission. Peskov added, however, that Moscow had not yet received information about the meetings the American representatives held with Ukrainian officials in Kiev on Sunday.

In the Ukrainian capital, President Volodymyr Zelensky said he met his negotiating team after the talks with the US envoys. He said there had been three rounds of negotiations, with representatives from the E3 group - France, the United Kingdom and Germany - taking part. Zelensky also said he held a separate closed meeting with Witkoff and Kushner to review the day's results.

According to his account, the discussions covered Ukraine's air defence needs, technology cooperation and support for the winter period. The latest exchanges matter because they suggest that diplomatic channels remain open at a time when the conflict has entered another phase of international engagement. Any renewed talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States would carry significance for the wider security environment in Europe, as well as for the prospects of any future ceasefire or settlement.

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The involvement of European partners in Kiev also points to the broader coalition of states seeking to shape the terms of any eventual agreement. The current effort follows a pattern of intermittent diplomacy since the full-scale war began, with outside mediators and direct contacts periodically used to test whether the sides can move closer to negotiations. The presence of Witkoff and Kushner in both Moscow and Kiev indicates that Washington is still pursuing a channel for discussion, even though the Kremlin said it is premature to name a time or place for any new meeting.

For Ukraine, the focus on air defence and winter support shows that immediate battlefield and civilian needs remain part of the diplomatic agenda. What remains unclear is whether the latest contacts will lead to a direct Putin-Trump conversation or to a new round of formal negotiations. It is also not known whether Moscow and Kiev are any closer to agreeing on a framework for talks.

The next developments to watch are any confirmation of a presidential call, further statements from the Kremlin or the White House, and whether the shuttle diplomacy produces a concrete venue and date for renewed discussions.

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